Systems and methods for peripheral device control virtualization

Abstract

A method for processing a function command for a peripheral device, the method that includes obtaining, by a device controller intermediary, a function command from a virtual machine, where the function command is associated with a peripheral device, performing a lookup, in a function policy database to identify an emulated function policy associated with the function command, making a determination that the function command does not violate the emulated function policy, and in response to the determination, forwarding the function command to the peripheral device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for processing a function command for a peripheral device, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by a device controller intermediary, a function command from a virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with a peripheral device;   performing a lookup, in a function policy database to identify an emulated function policy associated with the function command;   making a determination that the function command does not violate the emulated function policy; and   in response to the determination:
 forwarding the function command to the peripheral device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the function command is received at an emulated physical function of the device controller intermediary. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the function command is forwarded to a physical function of the peripheral device, wherein the physical function is associated with the emulated physical function. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the function policy database comprises a function entry, wherein the function entry comprises the emulated function policy and an emulated function identifier associated with the emulated physical function. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the function command specifies a function operation to generate a virtual function on the peripheral device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein after forwarding the function command to the peripheral device, the method further comprises:
 generating an emulated virtual function associated with the virtual function.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after forwarding the function command to the peripheral device, the method further comprises:
 obtaining a second function command from a second virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with the peripheral device;   performing a second lookup, in the function policy database to identify a second emulated function policy associated with the second function command;   making a second determination that the function command does not violate the second emulated function policy; and   in response to the determination:   forwarding the second function command to the peripheral device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after forwarding the function command to the peripheral device, the method further comprises:
 obtaining a second function command from a second virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with the peripheral device;   performing a second lookup, in the function policy database to identify a second emulated function policy associated with the second function command;   making a second determination that the function command violates the second emulated function policy; and   in response to the determination:   rejecting the second function command.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein making the second determination comprises:
 identifying that a function operation, of the function command, specifies making a global change to the peripheral device.   
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, enables the processor to perform a method for processing a function command for a peripheral device, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by a device controller intermediary, a function command from a virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with a peripheral device;   performing a lookup, in a function policy database to identify an emulated function policy associated with the function command;   making a determination that the function command does not violate the emulated function policy; and   in response to the determination:
 forwarding the function command to the peripheral device. 
   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the function command is received at an emulated physical function of the device controller intermediary. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the function command is forwarded to a physical function of the peripheral device, wherein the physical function is associated with the emulated physical function. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the function policy database comprises a function entry, wherein the function entry comprises the emulated function policy and an emulated function identifier associated with the emulated physical function. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the function command specifies a function operation to generate a virtual function on the peripheral device. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein after forwarding the function command to the peripheral device, the method further comprises:
 generating an emulated virtual function associated with the virtual function.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein after forwarding the function command to the peripheral device, the method further comprises:
 obtaining a second function command from a second virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with the peripheral device;   performing a second lookup, in the function policy database to identify a second emulated function policy associated with the second function command;   making a second determination that the function command violates the second emulated function policy; and   in response to the determination:   rejecting the second function command.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein making the second determination comprises:
 identifying that a function operation, of the function command, specifies making a global change to the peripheral device.   
     
     
         18 . A computing device, comprising:
 a processor; and   memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, enables the processor to perform a method for processing a function command for a peripheral device, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by a device controller intermediary, a function command from a virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with a peripheral device; 
 performing a lookup, in a function policy database to identify an emulated function policy associated with the function command; 
 making a determination that the function command does not violate the emulated function policy; and 
 in response to the determination: 
 forwarding the function command to the peripheral device. 
   
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 18 , wherein the function command is received at an emulated physical function of the device controller intermediary. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 19 , wherein the function command is forwarded to a physical function of the peripheral device, wherein the physical function is associated with the emulated physical function.